[Reforming Spanish America]
Throughout the 18th Century, the Bourbon Reformation's (or Bourbon Reforms) goal was to advance Spain and modernize Spanish American administrations. In places such as Merida and Campeche, leaders met to discuss moderate ideas and modified local administrations. This interference in local affairs aggravated the creole elites but was tolerated because of a fear of takeover by the mestizos or any other lower caste group. Spanish peninsulares (leading Spanish officials) attempted to resist the creole elites from having anymore authority, which eventually monopolized power in the old colonial system.
Bourbon Reforms of Spain stimulated commercial growth and "modified administrations but did not drastically alter Yucatan's long established internal divisions." (1) By the end of the 1700s many administrative units or paridos were created. The greatest and most influential parido was Merida. At the time Merida was the center for most economical developments. It was "the Rome of the peninsula." (2) Although it was a beautiful city, it still contained poverty and abuse which can later on be credited for contributing to many revolts. The second most influential parido was Campeche which was at neck and neck with Merida. Eventually, the tension and rivalry between the two cities was suppressed after being invaded by fellow Amerindians and the Yucatan became divided.
From the peninsulares trying to modernize and modify the Spanish American administrations, the strive for independence was increasing. Shortly after the Mexico War of Independence occurred, the Yucatan declared their own independence from Spain in 1821 becoming the Patriotic Confederation. (3) However, the Mexican Empire did not accept Yucatan's strive for independence and attacked the Yucatan's two main paridos, Merida and Campeche. During their struggle with the Mexican Empire, Yucatan Republic's leaders integrated many Maya soldiers into their armies to help defend their region.
After Maya soldiers were given the weapons and ability to defend themselves, they were able to maintain more control than before.
Eventually, after high taxes and oppression, the Mayas wanted liberty and independence. Thus, in 1847 the Caste War of the Yucatan begun.
(The actual Caste War will be explained and discussed in the next chapter)
(1) Terry Rugeley, Yucatan's Maya Peasantry and the Origins of the Caste War, (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1996), 2.
(2) Terry Rugeley, Yucatan's Maya Peasantry and the Origins of the Caste War, (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1996), 3.
Terry Rugeley,Maya Wars: ethnographic accounts from nineteenth-century
Yucatán, (University of Oklahoma Press, 2001).
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